AN independent shop has stopped selling disposable barbecues after a series of wildfires across Worcestershire.
Catherine Badham, co-owner of Badham’s hardware shop in Upton upon Severn, said she made the decision after a customer requested one.
Having seen firefighters regularly rushing out to incidents over recent weeks and their pleas against the use of disposable barbecues following a prolonged period of hot, dry weather, Mrs Badham felt the risk was just too high.
READ MORE: Firefighters plea to avoid ‘devastation’ after three field fires in one weekend
Increased risk
“It’s just too risky and it’s not because I think people are irresponsible, it’s just because it’s so easy in these conditions to think something has been put out when it hasn’t and then there’s carnage,” she said.
“Quite a few of my friends are firefighters and I don’t want to contribute to their already quite risky job.”
The shop, on New Street in the town centre, receives requests for disposable barbecues, particularly over the summer, but Mrs Badham said they don’t plan to restock them, even when summer comes to an end.
In fact, she has supported a ban on the item.
“We won’t be selling them again,” she said. “It’s just not worth it for a cheap barbecue, with the mess it causes and the danger it puts people in.
“It seems ridiculous to me to be lighting a fire so close to the ground just to cook some sausages.
“This is my community and it’s where we live and I don’t want to make anybody’s life harder for the sake of a few quid.
“It’s about looking after your community. It’s what we all need to do a little bit more of.
“I think all the shops will be doing it and I hope disposable barbecues do get banned because they seem insanely dangerous to me.”
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Praise from firefighters
FIRE: A hedgerow fire on Welland Road near Upton upon Severn is one of many that firefighters have attended during the hot, dry summer (Image: Jam Shack)
Upton upon Severn Fire Station has praised the shop for the move, describing it as an “extremely responsible” decision.
“This is detrimental to them as shop owners due to losing out on money, however extremely responsible and commendable to prevent the risk of it being their BBQs potentially causing a fire in these conditions,” a fire station spokesperson said.
It follows repeated warnings from firefighters, who have faced a busy summer, including a hedgerow fire on Welland Road, a large field fire in Harvington, a field fire in Ripple, a farm fire in Radford, and a fire that spread to the M5 embankment.
